Courier and Messenger Salary in Sacramento, CA
Couriers and Messengers in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area earn a median $44,760 a year — 14% more than the national median. After 2026 taxes, that is $36,783 take-home, or $3,065 a month.
Take-home pay calculator
Pre-filled with the median courier and messenger salary in Sacramento, CA. Enter your own offer to see your paycheck.
- Federal income tax$3,191
- Social Security (6.2%)$2,775
- Medicare (1.45%)$649
- California income tax$780
- CA State Disability Insurance (SDI)$582
- Take-home pay$36,783
Marginal rate: 12% federal + 4.00% state
Courier and Messenger pay by experience in Sacramento, CA
| Percentile | Salary | Hourly | Take-home / yr | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile (entry level) | $36,090 | $17.35 | $30,276 | $2,523 |
| 25th percentile | $39,220 | $18.86 | $32,625 | $2,719 |
| Median (50th) | $44,760 | $21.52 | $36,783 | $3,065 |
| 75th percentile | $47,960 | $23.06 | $39,165 | $3,264 |
| 90th percentile (top earners) | $69,110 | $33.23 | $54,234 | $4,519 |
Wages: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025. Take-home: single filer, California resident, 2026 tax rules.
What $44,760 buys in Sacramento, CA
Prices in Sacramento, CA are 6.7% higher than the U.S. average (housing costs are 1.30× the national average). Adjusted for local prices, a median courier and messenger's $36,783 take-home pay has the buying power of $34,483 in a typical American city.
Rents: HUD Fair Market Rents, FY2026 (40th-percentile gross rent incl. utilities). Price levels: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024.
Courier and Messenger jobs are about as common in Sacramento, CA as in the U.S. overall (location quotient 0.98).
Best-paying cities for couriers and messengers, adjusted for cost of living
Sacramento, CA ranks #13 of 33 metro areas once taxes and local prices are taken into account.
| # | Metro area | Median salary | Take-home | Real value* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memphis, TN | $44,040 | $37,566 | $40,753 |
| 2 | Knoxville, TN | $42,610 | $36,417 | $39,341 |
| 3 | Nashville, TN | $42,800 | $36,570 | $37,960 |
| 4 | St. Louis, MO | $42,680 | $35,405 | $37,234 |
| 5 | Seattle, WA | $48,510 | $41,158 | $37,035 |
| 6 | Pittsburgh, PA | $42,250 | $34,831 | $36,791 |
| 7 | Denver, CO | $46,170 | $37,955 | $35,880 |
| 8 | Oklahoma City, OK | $38,970 | $32,284 | $35,710 |
| 13 | Sacramento, CA | $44,760 | $36,783 | $34,483 |
*Take-home pay divided by the BEA price level, so every city is measured in U.S.-average dollars. See all 33 metros →
Courier and Messenger salaries elsewhere in California
- San Francisco, CA — $47,840
- Los Angeles, CA — $43,760
- San Diego, CA — $42,440
Frequently asked questions
How much does a courier and messenger make in Sacramento, CA?
The median courier and messenger salary in the Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA metro area is $44,760 a year, or about $21.52 an hour, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2025). The middle half earn between $39,220 and $47,960.
What is a courier and messenger’s take-home pay in Sacramento, CA?
On the median $44,760 salary, a single filer living in California takes home about $36,783 a year ($3,065 a month) after federal tax, Social Security, Medicare and $1,362 in California taxes in 2026.
Is Sacramento, CA a good place to work as a courier and messenger?
Pay here is 14% above the national median of $39,200. Local prices are 6.7% above the U.S. average, so the take-home pay buys what $34,483 would in a typical U.S. city. Sacramento, CA ranks #13 of 33 metro areas for cost-of-living-adjusted pay in this job.
Can a courier and messenger afford rent in Sacramento, CA?
HUD’s fair market rent for a one-bedroom in Sacramento, CA is $1,812 a month ($2,241 for two bedrooms) — 59% of a median courier and messenger’s monthly take-home pay. Financial planners usually suggest keeping rent under about 30%.
Related jobs in Sacramento, CA
- Executive Secretary and Executive Administrative Assistant — $87,910
- Public Safety Telecommunicator — $79,610
- First-Line Supervisor of Office and Administrative Support Workers — $77,350
- Payroll and Timekeeping Clerk — $65,810
- Postal Service Mail Carrier — $64,250
- Eligibility Interviewers, Government Programs — $64,060
- Court, Municipal, and License Clerks — $63,240
- Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks — $62,400
- Insurance Claim and Policy Processing Clerk — $60,740
- Postal Service Mail Sorters, Processors, and Processing Machine Operators — $60,200
- Legal Secretary and Administrative Assistant — $59,470
- Human Resources Assistants, Except Payroll and Timekeeping — $58,610